Religious lables widly misused by media. Interesting read.

[Historic NY]

The recent obituaries celebrating the career of nationally syndicated horoscope columnist Linda C. Black included a number of colorful details about her life.

She was a Libra and lived on a peacock farm on California’s Central Coast. The Chicago Tribune also reported that Black was “a devout Catholic and a devoted follower of astrology, which holds that the position of the stars and planets has a direct effect on human affairs and personalities.”

This is interesting, since the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that, “All forms of divination are to be rejected. ... Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers.”

<snip>
There is no question that the term “devout” is used far too often and in a sloppy manner, said Richard Ostling, a religion-beat veteran best known for his work with Time and The Associated Press. This fact could be a comment on how little exposure many mainstream journalists have to religious life and practice.
<snip>

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/sep/25/devout-overused-in-describing-faithful/

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. lables?

All too often, perhaps because they make good media darleks or darlings, Devout usually means deviant.

[eilen]

2. Astrology is supposed to be the Golden Key to interpreting the written law of

Astronomy, which is the base of most all mythologies and religions, including Catholocism, so maybe she was more devout than they think.

[laconicsax]

3. Genesis 1:14 says that the stars exist for the purpose of reading signs (ie astrology)

Just sayin'

[onager]

4. Right. The Catholic Church only teaches the Official Superstitious Nonsense.

It has never appreciated competition from Off-Brand Superstitious Nonsense.

Fun fact I learned on The Woo-woo...er, History Channel recently: Washington, DC has more zodiacs decorating public buildings than any other capital city in the world. IIRC, the number is 52.

This was in one of the umpteen recent shows H.C. has been running on the Freemasons. For some reason here lately, History Channel has a real hard-on for Freemasonry. Generally tying them into a lot of hogwash about the Knights Templar/Da Vinci Code hoopla. You'd think HC was getting paychecks from the Vatican or something. Cough...

The show also explained why Freemasons might piss off the Pope. One of their initiation rituals is an allegory about the "three greatest dangers to mankind: ignorance, fanaticism, and tyranny."

[trotsky]

5. Is John Kerry a "devout" Catholic?

Millions of Catholics themselves would say no, since Kerry supports abortion rights. So who decides which members of a sect are the "devout" ones?

[charlie]

6. Hey

Welcome back :hi:

[trotsky]

8. Hey

Thanks! Was on vacation. A break from DU was a nice bonus. :)

[Silent3]

7. Since being "devout" is supposedly a good and virtuous thing...

...I think a lot of people get to be "devout" when they die, while people are eulogizing them.